Report by Ryan Borrett

Photo: Jonny Warrington

 

Jon Stynes scored an incredible four goals as Floreat Athena defeated Armadale 5-2 in Round 22 of the PS4 NPLWA at E&D Litis Stadium on Saturday. 

The hosts remained in control throughout, despite Armadale twice getting themselves back into the game, and coach Glen Grostate said Floreat deserved the three points.

“We were good today, we scored a lot of goals, but we also scored early which I’m really pleased with,” he said.

“We were coming off two difficult losses, so to get the win today was really important to stay in contact with the top of the table.

"We’ve just got to play every game like it’s our last, and go for the three points every game until the end.”

Floreat took the lead early after some quick passing led to Stynes’ curling a shot into the bottom corner.

Armadale fought hard and drew level on 30 minutes thanks to Charlie Kenna’s header from Jake Sardelic’s cross.

Floreat restored their lead three minutes later from a free kick when Stynes netted an impressive far post header.

Dean Evans made it 3-1 on 40 minutes when Kris Gate and Stynes combined to unselfishly tee up their skipper.

Stynes completed his treble when Evans ran down the left and crossed for the forward, who chested down the cross and rounded the Armadale keeper to score.

Jordan Pavett gave Armadale a glimmer of hope when he chipped the goalkeeper to make it 4-2.

But they wouldn’t pull another back, and Floreat added a fifth in the final ten minutes, when Stynes capitalised on a defensive slip-up to seal the points.

Armadale coach John O’Reilly said his team approached the game defensively but their plan didn’t work out.

“The problem today was we saw the ugly side of our game when we lost the ball and Floreat punished us on the counter,“ he said.

“To get five goals put past you means we have to work on this area in the next four weeks.

“We could have been a lot more clinical with our own chances as well.”

 

Floreat Athena 5 (Stynes 5min, 33, 53, 81, Evans 40)

Armadale 2 (Kenna 30min, Pavett 62)

Saturday, July 29, 2017

E&D Litis Stadium

Kick-off: 3:00pm

Referee: Nico Hoyle

Assistant referees: Ammar Timour, Vraj Patel

 

Floreat Athena: 1. Jason SALDARIS 4. Andrew SCALDAFERRO 6. Jesse FULLER 8. Jonathan STYNES 11. Kristopher Gate 12. Jackson MORGAN (18. Phillip ARNOLD 90+4) 14. Ludovic BOI 15. Christopher SALDARIS 16. Clayton Arnez (2. Juma AWAKA 57) 17. Dean EVANS 33. Mark Pritchard (13. Nelfy NAZARY 67)

Substitutes not used: 5. Bobby WILSON 23. Jordan BARBAS

Yellow cards: SALDARIS 64, MORGAN 90

Red cards: nil

 

Armadale: 1. Michael CRAGGS 2. Dylan WHITE 3. Jake SARDELIC 4. Nathan COSTELLO (18. Milan OGNJENOVIC 60) 7. Charlie KENNA 8. Jordan PAVETT 9. Kyle KING 14. David ANNALL (21. Herman ALOGNON 73) 16. Billy QUINNCROFT (25. Anthony SKORICH 77) 17. James ATKINS 20. Ali GHOLAMI

Substitutes not used: 10. Ryan JAMES 30. Alex RADONICH

Yellow cards: nil

Red cards: nil